RAWALPINDI, Nov 19 (APP): Minister for Planning, Development and National Reforms Ahsan Iqbal on Thursday said that successful completion of Pak-China Economic Corridor would help usher the country in new era of development.
Speaking as chief guest at the concluding ceremony of Global Entrepreneurship Week, organized by Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ahsan Iqbal said that all out efforts are in hand to fetch huge foreign investment, accomplished successfully.
Terming essential prevalence of stability and peace, Ahsan Iqbal
said that no development goal could be achieved sans insecurity or instability.
“Every segment flourishes in a peaceful environment and the
government has been making all strides to achieve this goal”, he said.
The government is toeing a policy based on “no compromise on
achieving peace and stability” which in return is proving fruitful to gain economic prosperity and wellbeing.
If the country has to fetch foreign investments then stability and
consistency of policies have to continue.
Recalling the time when PML (N) government came into power after
the general elections, he said the country was facing numerous challenges of terrorism, extremism, disturbed law and order, economic crunch besides foreign reserves had fallen to lower ebb of US $ 6 billion.
The international media had declared the country as “haven for
the terrorist elements” but today they are appreciative of polices adopted by the government and are saying “Pakistan has become a heaven for foreign investment.”
“We need to see half glass full instead of keep cursing empty
half. We are self critical nation but never consider that we have made lots of achievements in the development sector. So, we need to adopt an optimistic approach instead of being pessimists. Alhamdolilah the global perceptions about the country have improved considerably.”
The country’s foreign reserves have swelled to US $ 20 billion and
International ratings are showing healthy signs which are mandatory to achieve the economic development goals, he said.
He said all this had been achieved by showing zero-tolerance
against the curses and the areas where unrest was order of the day have been showing betterment. As far as law and order situation in Karachi was concerned it has shown considerable improvement by launching an operation.
Balochistan had become a place where there was no sanctity for
the national assets was used to be observed but now the people are celebrating the national days with tranquility, dignity and fervor like elsewhere.
Highlighting the role of youth in achieving development goals he
advised them to adopt pro-active approach as the trends of the world have immensely changed ” we have to prepare for globalness ” Glocal term.
“Every one has to prepare for meeting the challenges of the modern
world.”
Presently, he said the youth was two-third of the country’s population
and they need to be guided in the right direction. Therefore, he said, the government had devised a number of policies.
He said that the young entrepreneurs should have confidence in
themselves as those had flourished who followed these principles.
President RCCI Mian Humayun Parvez in his welcome speech said
RCCI had always been in the forefront to build the country’s economy and hoped that business friendly policies will help the business fraternity thrive further.
Later, a question and answer (interactive) session was held between
the participants and the chief guest.
Business students from various universities of the country participated in
the week-long deliberations of the event.